Ukraine's Defense Ministry and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will share their powers, while the posts of Commander-in-Chief and Chief of the General Staff will also be separated.

"The task to separate the posts of the Chief of the General Staff and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the reform of the command of the [military] services, will be completed before the end of this year," First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Ihor Kolesnyk told Army.Inform on September 3.

The military official added the Commander-in-Chief would command the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while the General Staff would ensure his work and provide comprehensive support in the implementation of relevant decisions.

The military management transformation is planned to be completed by the end of 2020.

"By the end of 2020, we will switch to a new management system and select new professional personnel for updated structures," he said.

According to Kolesnyk, the essence of the reform will be a clear separation of powers between the military command and control bodies that are involved in the development, training and provision ("generation") of the Armed Forces, and those that use troops.

"According to the principles of NATO member states, the defense department as the central authority should exercise democratic civilian control over the Armed Forces, provide the army with resources, and determine the defense policy, while the General Staff should implement it," Kolesnyk said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed former Chief of the General Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko from service.

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